McGeady proves worth again as Cats' destiny in own hands after good Easter
For as long as I can remember the Easter weekend has played a pivotal part in many a football season. In my mind it always signified the run-in to a long hard campaign and there is little margin for error now, one slip up could cost you dearly and be a major factor in which division you will find yourselves playing in next season.
Thankfully for Sunderland we went into the Easter period at the right end of the table and full of confidence due to the exploits of the past few months under Lee Johnson.
Nevertheless, there was a big task ahead, firstly against a talented Oxford side on Good Friday followed by a mouthwatering clash on Easter Monday with high-flying Peterborough.
The feel-good factor didn’t last long as Oxford scored quickly on Friday to give Sunderland another uphill task.
It didn’t worry me massively though as I am confident in this Sunderland team now. A bit of Jordan Jones magic set up Lynden Gooch.
Despite the form the team is in it’s still a difficult ploy to win games but when a ball is rolled across the edge of the box for a first time finish there’s absolutely nobody in the squad you would want to be on the end of it, other than Aiden McGeady.
Calmly and majestically he stroked the ball into the bottom corner sending the fans at home into raptures I’m sure.
Max Power wrapped up the points and clearly enjoyed the moment.
A sense of nervous excitement seemed to be circling around the game on Monday morning.
Many fans were claiming this was Sunderland’s biggest fixture in a long time, and to be honest it was hard to disagree.
A win would move the club into the promotion places at their opponents’ expense, while a draw would still leave the teams destiny in their own hands.
Lee Johnson decided to hand Ross Stewart his first start. The manager’s intention was clear, get the ball wide to McGeady and Jones and get crosses in for the two big men.
It seemed within seconds of the teams being announced that the sprinklers were turned on at Weston Homes Stadium, completely soaking the flanks and thus causing them to cut up early in the game.
Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.
When their goal did come it was quite a well worked one. I felt defensively the goal could have been avoided but unfortunately
Sunderland once again found themselves behind.
Johnson’s response was to make four substitutions, shortly followed by a fifth, to add more energy.
It was one of those substitutes, Josh Scowen, who made a vital contribution shortly after his arrival, drawing a foul on the edge of the area.
Again McGeady showed that his exclusion was Phil Parkinson’s biggest mistake in his reign.
He once again placed a wonderful free-kick over the wall, it could most definitely turn out to be one of his most crucial.
In the end a draw was probably a fair result, and if the management, players and fans of Sunderland had been offered four points on Friday morning from the two games I have no doubt most would have taken it. I know I would have.
Destiny is still in Sunderland’s own hands.